Wasn't that because we were trying to feminize business suits? Without looking like there might actually be a woman under there?

There was definitely an impulse to desexualize women in managerial positions. You couldn't be taken seriously if you showed any cleavage. Or neck, really. No neck!

I have a craxy feminist theory that they are often used to bully women.

I think this is true in some cases. Her shorts and flip-flops wouldn't fly here at my university, although a skirt-without-hose and sandals-not-rubber would. The flip-flops are expressly prohibited by our Dean, and the shorts is more of a collective "we don't wear those at work."

I look at her, read what she said and my mind says "unambitious." But I had the "dress for the position you want, not the position you have" advice drummed into me.

The ones that state that pantyhose or tights are mandatory with skirts. Even though I rarely go barelegged, I can't see how this is anybody's business.

Is that even a thing anymore, anywhere?

I was just having lunch with Old!Boss at Jimmy's (Homicide fans would know it) and the main mayoral opponent to the sitting mayor came in. I sat there the rest of lunch terrified that he was going to come over to talk to us and I would have to think of something intelligent to ask him.

You know what annoys the hell out of me in dress codes? The ones that state that pantyhose or tights are mandatory with skirts. Even though I rarely go barelegged, I can't see how this is anybody's business.

That's the policy at the bookstore I work at. It was also true when I worked for Ponderosa back in high school as well as the Oak Park library back in the late '80s. At both of those locations, I had managers who would accuse me of not wearing nylons until I pulled the hose away from my leg to show them that, no, my legs don't tan that color--I have to wear it!

I am wearing a sleeveless shirt today (shoulders totally covered) because it's hot like OH GOD I'M DYING outside.

It's getting long enough that I'm losing my curl, man.

A round of haircuts for my friends.

I think you might just cry when you see me.

I see where they're going with the story, but this line in the article irritated me.

"Now companies are starting to clamp down a little bit. They've found women have a tendency to show off too much skin, and men tend to show up in clothes that are wrinkled and not ironed."

I'm probably oversensitive. But still, irritating.

Anyway, I am ND in this. Today's work clothing is camo zip-off cargo pants (with big pockets for gear), a black baby-T with the name of a punk band in big white letters, and black Doc Marten boots. Thank goodness for jobs without dress codes.

Although, funnily enough, I will no longer fit in wearing these clothes, because my students now have a school dress code. So I will be punkier than thou. Err, than they. Them? Anyway.

Better than wearing skirts & steel toed moccasins to climb the racks for inventory.

I remember reading somewhere a woman's opinion that the dress codes were to prevent the younger women from flaunting body parts that might look better than the same on their female superiors.

Sort of. It's not really to prevent it, so much as punish whichever one is deemed "slutty." Dress codes are usually not specific enough to rule in or out clothing that might be on the line, this means certain v-necks, tight shirts, too short skirts or tight pants. So, who decides how low my v-neck or wrap dress goes? How tight can my shirt be?

I think I have a pretty good handle on how much skin is ok at work. But 30 some odd years of comments about my body can make me second guess myself if someone says something about-especially for 36 D me-my shirt.

For example: I had a work thing to which I wore a Target faux-wrap dress (sewn up the front instead of actual wrap). It's actually 2 sizes larger than I wear, so it's not clingy, had on a camisole type thing under it. A woman complained to my boss because she could see the camisole. So, skin was completely covered, but it apparently scandalized this woman that there might actually be breasts under that dress. I know from several girlfriends and other work experiences that that was not an isolated incident.

People + Fashion = Freaky Ideas

We don't really seem to have a "code" here. It's sort of business casual I guess but a couple of the guys wear dress slacks (UGH HATE THAT WORD!!!), button down shirts & ties. But the main partner dudes wear jeans most days.

I dress the way I did at my old job. Nobody has said a thing to me. And I'd like to see them try!

I'm always confused by people seem to think that khaki pants are OK for men but too casual for women. Is it the tie? My mother's dress code (at a County Social Services) actually spelled this out. Only she was all confused because it said "Dockers" or Haggar slacks, so she thought it was only those brand names that were allowed.

Where I worked last, there were four of us, two fat and two thin. Only us fatties were asked to never leave our office or open the door without putting on a blazer when wearing a sleeveless shirt.